Mbappe Leaves France Squad for Real Madrid Knee Checks Ahead of Belgium Clash
France will face Belgium on Monday without captain Kylian Mbappe after the forward left the squad for Real Madrid medical checks on a left-knee injury. Zinedine Zidane has not summoned a replacement, leaving Les Bleus with 22 players for the UEFA Nations League trip to Brussels.
Mbappe setback forces France reshuffle
Mbappe was injured while scoring the decisive goal in Friday’s 1-0 win over Turkey in Izmit. He did not join the rest of the France party in Belgium and has instead returned to Spain to begin treatment and rehabilitation with his club.
France medical staff believe the condition of the Kocaeli Stadium pitch played a major part in the incident. There was frustration inside the camp over the surface, with the view that Mbappe lost his footing before twisting his knee.
Zidane must now rework his attacking plans for the match at the King Baudouin Stadium, with the captain unavailable and no late addition brought into the group.
Camavinga and Diouf in contention
The France coach is expected to use the Belgium fixture to test the depth of his squad before Italy arrive in Paris later this week. Eduardo Camavinga is among the players Zidane could turn to, with the Real Madrid midfielder valued highly by the France boss despite the pair never having worked together at club level.
Camavinga was involved in the post-session work at Clairefontaine alongside several players from the Rennes group, helping maintain the mood in camp after Mbappe’s departure.
- Andy Diouf, the Inter Milan wing-back, is an option at left-back.
- Lucas Da Cunha is pushing to start in the holding-midfield role.
- France will carry out final preparations behind closed doors at Union Saint-Gilloise’s training base.
Belgium clash before Italy test
Kick-off in Brussels is scheduled for 20:45 on Monday. A win would strengthen France’s position in Group A before the meeting with Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.
Belgium, meanwhile, return home needing an immediate response after losing to Italy in Rome. Zidane’s altered France side will aim to take three points despite the absence of its injured captain.
